Article dispensing paper carton



y 9, 1952 w. J. WELLS 2,605,038

ARTICLE DISPENSING PAPER CARTON Filed Feb. 14, 1948 /a J 17 ]-/9 l8 I4 I? A ,5 w INVENTOR.

Patented July 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE 2,605,038 ARTICLE DISPENSING PAPER CARTON William J. W l s, B fi N- Y.'. ss gnol: t F-, N.. Buffalo, N .a. corpora! Burt Comp ny, In

tion. of Delaware.

' Application February 14, 1948, Serial No. 8,379;

This invention relates to improvements in dispensing cartons particularly designed for dispensing articles one or more at a time, such as particles or tablets of chewing gum, candy, medicated tablets and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to such cartons-constructed of cardboard, fiberboard, paperboard, plastics or similar sheet material that can be readily fabricated and bent or folded to formthe completed carton.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a carton of the class mentioned that can be economically manufactured in large quantities from single integral blanks of sheet material, and

having an improved dispensing structure whereby the articles contained in'the carton can be easily dispensed, one or more at a time, and the dispensing operation easily controlled by the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing carton of the class mentioned having an improved arrangement of the dispensing opening at one side of the carton whereby the dispensing of the articles can be easily controlled by the user, the dispensing'opening being preferably spaced from both ends of the carton and positioned nearer to'one' end than to the other so as to add to the lconvenience of the dispensing operation. 1,

According to another feature of improvement,

the closure flap for the dispensing opening is positioned in the side and attaching panels of the carton, and is formed by slitting the blank and leaving the closure. flap ni a y in. its ori inal position in the blank, and held this position by a short integral tie which is readily everable by external pressure exerted by the user upon the closure flap, thus permitting the flap to be swung into open or dispensing position.

' Another object is to provide for cartons or the class mentioned, an improved attachment for the carton panel in which the closure flap is initially positioned and held; by the severa-ble tie, so as to provide a support or resistance to aid in severing the tie when external pressure is applied.

' Still another object of the invention is to provide for cartons of the class mentioned, an improved supporting arrangement for Supporting the closure flap in its closed position following each dispensing operation, and embodying a flap receiving slot or cut'in one panel wall positioned toprovide a flexible flap retaining band arranged to guide the flap into its final retaining position in the slot.

Other objects of the invention will be in part pointed out in. the following detailed description '1 C a m (01. 2.29.1o

f a il s ati e. ut preferred. mbodiment f I the invention, and will become part apparent as the disclosure proceeds.

The invention accordingly comprises the; features of construction, combination of; elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of; which will heindicated in'the claims.

Fora more omplete isclosure of the nature, objects-and advantages of the invention; reference is had to the following" detailed disclosure 1 clearly;-

Fig. '4 is an enlarged transverse section bf'tht: carton taken substantially onthe line 'lle-A-"of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of 'the arrows and showing the manner of releasin and op nin 'th closure flap; r 1 y p a transverse sectional view similar to that at Fi st, buthowing the closure-flap-inits original Position in the completed carton and befo e release thereof:

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail vsectionalViewtaken substantially On. theline. B -fi 'of'Fig.-,2 .loo'king inthe direction of the arrows; Fig. 7 s an'enlarged detailed 'secti'on'alview taken substantially on the line 'lf-lof Fig? 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; and" j-Fig. 8' is a plan" view on asmaller'scale 'ofa blank .ofsheet material constructed and arranged to be folded or set up to form the completed car-ton. I m

Referring to the drawing for a detaileddescription of'the illustrative embodiment of the invention, the improved carton is shown asbeihg constructed'of sheet material, preferably of cardboard or fiberboard, although it may be'made'bf other sheet materials as. suggested above.-: The cardboard is of sufiicient thickness and strength so that the carton is maintained in its expanded set up condition, as sh own,'-'by virtue of the strength or stiffness of the sheet material; J The carton is particularly designed to "containx particlesor pellets of, chewing gum orotherfmaterial as above suggested, the pellets ordinarily being sugar-coated to provide a smooth, hard, nontacky surface. In the embodiment shown, the pellets are of sufficient thickness so as to be maintained by the carton walls in a single layer in the carton and arranged in two or three longitudinal rows, and of a size or length so that only one pellet may pass at one time through the dispensing opening. In other words the dispensing opening may be sized in accordance with the size and shape of the pellets to restrict dispensing thereof to one pellet at a time.

As shown, the blank 10 of cardboard or sheet material is preferably prefabricated as shown in Fig. 8. In the embodiment shown the carton is of the five-panel type including top panel H, bottom panel 12, side panels [3 and I4, and attaching panel it at one extremity of the blank. End closure flaps l6 and I! are formed at each of the opposite ends of the blank H3, and are adapted to fold into overlapping relation to form closures for the opposite ends of the carton. In order to weaken the blank so that it can be easily bent or folded on lines between the respective panels, and between the latter and the end closure flaps, the cardboard is creased or scored "along lines l8 and 19. This creasing may be done by means of an appropriate tool that crushes or oil-sets the fibers of the cardboard slightly so as to weaken its' resistance to folding along these lines in a manner well known in the art.

. Alsothe blank i is provided with a cut or slit 20 having spaced sections extending from the adjacent fold line '18 entirely across the side panel I! and continuing intothe attaching panel and deviating longitudinally of the latter and meeting so as to form a closure flap 2i and to form a dispensing opening 22 in the side panel H which is closed and opened by operation of the closure flap 2| as later described. The slit or cut preferably extends all the way through the sheet material of the blank so as to form the closure flap which may be substantially rectangular as shown, but a short integral section or tie 23.remains uncut. This integral tie 23 is frangible and readily severable and functions to hold-the closure flap 2| in its original position in the panels l4 and [5 until it is desired to dispense the contents of the carton. The closureflap is permanently attached to the blank or carton at its inner edge coincident with the scored fold line 18, which forms a supporting hinge 18' whereby the flap can swing into open- ...:ing and closing positions.

At the opposite edge or margin of the blank from the attaching panel [5 the top panel H is provided with a thumb notch 24 and a longitudinal cutor slit 25 spaced inwardly a short distance from the thumb notch so as to form a guiding and retaining band 26, the purpose of which is later described. Also a transverse cut or slit 2'! may be used in some cases so as to divide the guiding and retaining band intermediate its ends.

- Cuts 25 and 21 preferably extend all the way through the sheet material, but in some cases it may be preferred to leave a short uncut integral tie 28 so as to retain the guiding and retaining band 26 temporarily in its original position or until it is desired to dispense the particles. This integral tie '28 is frangible or readily breakable by pressure exerted uponthe band 26 so as to release this attachment of the band to the panel II, and to release the two parts of the band from each other at the transverse division line 21. The attaching panel 15 is proclose to the adhesive attachment 29 of the attaching panel so as to assist in severing this tie as later described. The dispensing opening 22 is positioned in the side panel 14 and preferably nearer to one end of the carton than to the other end so as to assist in the dispensing operation. The section of the closure flap 2| positioned between the adjacent creased fold lines l8 serves 'as a closure for the dispensing opening while the section thereof beyond these fold lines serves as a tuck-in flap to retain the closure i'iap in its closed position following a dispensing operation.

When the blank 19 of sheet material has been fabricated as described, it is then formed or set up into completed condition as shown in Fig. 1. This may be accomplished by bending or folding the blank on the weakened fold lines l8 between the respective panels thus positioning the attaching panel IS in overlapping relation with the inner surface of the top panel I l, as clearly seen in Fig. 3, and the attaching panel is attached to the inner surface of the top panel I I by means of the band of adhesive 29. This secures the carton in set up condition for receiving the pellets or other contents with the exception of closing the opposite carton ends. Either end may be left open temporarily for receiving the contents which may be inserted through the open end by the packager of the merchandise. The ends of the carton may be closed and sealed by turning the small flaps i! inwardly and then turning the larger flaps I6 into overlapping relation so that the adhesive coating 30 of one flap is attached and sealed to the adjacentsurface of the inner flap [6 as clearly seen in Fig.3. It will be noted that the carton is constructed and arranged so as to be rapidly and economically manufactured in large quantities by factor methods and by the use of automatic machinery.

When the carton is received by the user it is ordinarily in the condition shown in Fig. l with the closure flap 21 of the dispensing opening 22 in its original closed position beneath the guiding and retaining band 26 and in its original position in the blank in which it is retained by the integral tie 23 which at that time is unbroken thus retaining the closure flap securely in closing position during handling and shipment. Also in cases where the integral supporting tie 28 for the guiding and retaining band 26 is employed, this tie also remains unbroken thus retaining the guiding and retaining band 26 against accidental displacement. The user may sever the tie 23 of the closure flap very quickly and easily by placing the thumb and finger at the same time beneath the bottom of the carton and above the closure flap 2! adjacent to the tie 23 and exerting downward pressure upon the closure flap as indicated in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawing, or a similar result may be obtained by placing the carton upon a firm supporting surface and similarly exerting downward pressure upon the closure flap 2 i. -In either case the integral tie 23 will be severed thus completely releasing the closure flap 2i sothat it can be withdrawn and swung into open posiassisting in severance of the tie; As soon as the tieli23 isthus severed the closure flap 2'lris pulled outwardly from its original closing position by engaging .it through the thumb notch '24 and exerting a slight outward p'ull'whereby theflap is easily moved to its open. position shown inzFig. 2. In cases where the he 28 is employed .for holding the guiding and retaining band 26in its original position, this can be easily severed at the same time as severance of the tie 23, merelyby exerting downward pressure upon/the guiding and retaining band 26, or the tie 23 'for'the 010:- sure flap may first be severed after which the tie 28 maybe severed. As above: mentioned the tie 28 .for the guiding and retaining band canbe omitted in some cases, leaving only the tie :23 .for thefcl'o'sure flap tobe severed.

Assoon as the closure flap is swung into'sits openiposition shown in Fig. .2, an article or pellet maybe quickly'and easily dispensed merely by shaking the carton slightly and disposing the dispensing opening 22 downwardly, whereupon :a pellet can be dispensed through the dispensing opening. In the embodiment shown the dispensing opening is sized so that only a single pellet can pass through atone time. After the single pellet. has thus been dispensed additional pellets can be held from passing through dispensing opening by exerting pressure upon the top and bottom panels to deflect them inwardly slightly so as to prevent passage of additional pellets. As soon "as this pressure is released the panels resume their original position due to their own resiliency.

When the desired pellets have thus been dispensed the closure flap 2! is'swung on its supporting hinge IE to close the dispensing opening, but the free end portion of the flap is inserted in the longitudinal slit 25 of the top panel above the guiding and retaining band 26, and not in its original position beneath said band. The end of the flap is positioned upon the band 26 and slight downward pressure exerted thus deflecting the band inwardly slightly as shown in Fig. 2, and guiding and positioning the flap for entry into the retaining slot. When the closure fiap is thus fully inserted in the slot 25 and the pressure released the natural resiliency of the band 26 tends to cause it to assume its original position, thus gripping or holding the closure flap in its reclosed position. Also since the opposite lateral edges of the flap are close to the opposite ends of theslot 25, the flap will be pinched near the slot ends, thus tending to hold it closed. The transverse division of the band 26 increases its flexibility slightly and thus assists in placing the closure flap in its final closing position. In some cases, however, due to variations in the stiffness or thickness of the sheet material, to the size of the carton, or to other factors, the transverse division of the guiding and retaining band may be omitted and the band made continuous.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Theinvention having'thus been fully described; the following is claimed:

' 1.51m. a carton, in combination, enclosing panels including a side panel and an adjacent attaching panel: forming an 'extension'of said side panel and overlapping a third enclosing panel, said adjacent side and attaching panels having a slit formation providing a dispensing opening in the carton and forming a closure fi'ap for said dispensing opening, said slit formation extending into said attaching panel and spaced within the bounds thereof and forming a tuck-in flap extension of" said closure flap enclosed within the bounds of said attaching panel and overlapping and beingflfre'e of direct attachment to said third enclosing panel, a severable integral tie for initia-llyholding said' closure flap extension in its original position, and an attachment positioned outsiilje of said tuck-in flap extension and adjacent to, said integral tie and attaching said attaching panel to said third panel and forming a iresistancejsupportto promote severance of said tie by pressure exerted on the outside of the carton. l

2. In a; carton,in combination, enclosing pan els including a side panel and an adjacent attach ng panel forming an extension of said side panel and; overlapping a. third enclosing panel, said adjacent side and attaching panels having a slit formation providing a dispensing opening inthe carton and forming a closure flap for said dispensing opening, said slit formation extenda ing into said attaching panel and spaced within the bounds. thereof and forming a tuck-in flap extension of .said clo'surefiap enclosed within the bounds of 'said attaching panel andoverlapping and being free of direct attachment to said third enclosing, paneL'and. an attachment positioned wholly outside of. said flap extension and attachingsaid attaching panel to said third panel.

Ina carton, :in combination, enclosing panelsincluding aside panel and an adjacent attaching panel forming an extension of said'side panel and overlapping a third enclosing panel,

,said adjacent side and attaching panels having a slit formation providing a dispensing opening in the carton and forming aclosure flap for said dispensing opening, said slit formation extending into said attaching panel and spaced within the bounds thereof and forming a tuck-in flap extension of said closure flap enclosed withinv the bounds of said attaching panel and overlapping and being free of direct attachment to said third enclosing panel, an attachment positioned wholly outside of said flap extension and attaching said attaching panel to said third panel, and a severable integral tie in proximity to said attachment and adjacent to the outer terminal of said closure flap extension for initially holding it in position.

4; In a carton, in combination, enclosing panels including a side panel and an adjacent attaching panel forming an extension of said side panel and overlapping a third enclosing panel, said adjacent side and attaching panels having a slit formation providing a dispensing opening in the carton and forming a closure flap for said dispensing opening, said slit formation extending into said attaching panel and spaced within the bounds thereof and forming a tuck-in flap extension of said closure flap enclosed within the bounds of said attaching panel and overlapping and being free of direct attachment to said third enclosing panel, said closure flap extension having a swinging end portion which in its original position is spaced inwardly from the adjacent end portion of said attaching panel, and an attachment positioned inwardly beyond said swinging end portion of said flap extension and attaching said attaching panel to said third panel.

5. In a carton, in combination, enclosing panels including a side panel and an adjacent attaching panel forming an extension of said side panel and overlapping a third enclosing panel, said carton having a slit formation providing a dispensing opening with a closure flap therefor and extending into said attaching panel and spaced within the bounds thereof and forming a tuck-in flap extension of said closure flap enclosed within the bounds of said attaching panel and overlapping said third panel, said closure flap extension having a swinging end portion which in its original position is spaced inwardly from the adjacent edge portion of said attaching panel, and an attachment positioned inwardly beyond said swinging end portion of said flap extension and attaching said attaching panel to said third panel.

6 In a carton, in combination, enclosing panels including a side panel and an adjacent attaching panel forming an extension of said side panel and overlapping a third enclosing panel, said carton having a slit formation providing a dispensing opening with a closure iiap therefor and extending into said attaching panel and spaced within the bounds thereof and forming a tuck-in flap extension of said closure flap enclosed within the bounds of said attaching panel and overlapping said third panel, said closure flap extension having a swinging end portion which in its original position is spaced inwardly from the adjacent edge portion of said attaching panel, an attachment positioned inwardly beyond said swinging end portion of said flap extension and attaching said attaching panel to said third panel, a severable tie in proximity to said attachment of said attaching panel and adjacent to said swinging free end portion of said flap 8 extension for initially holding the latter in position, and holding means on said third panel for holding said flap in closing position.

'7. In a carton, in combination, enclosing panels including a side panel and an adjacent attaching panel forming an extension of said side panel and overlapping a third enclosing panel, said carton having a slit formation providing a dispensing opening with a closure flap therefor and extending into said attaching panel and spaced within the bounds thereof and forming a tuck-in flap extension of said closure flap enclosed within the bounds of said attaching panel and overlapping said third panel, said closure flap extension having a swinging end portion which in its original position is spaced inwardly from the adjacent edge portion of said attaching panel, an attachment positioned inwardly beyond said swinging end portion of said flap extension and attaching 'said attaching panel to said third panel, a severable tie in proximity to said attachment of said attaching panel and adjacent to said swinging free end portion of said flap extension for initially holding the latter in position, holding means on said third panel for holding said flap in closing position, said holding means including a retaining band in said third panel formed by a flap receiving slit in said third panel, said retaining band being transversely divided to form opposing band sections with adjacent ends, and a frangible tie between said adjacent end portions.

WILLIAM J. WELLS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,988,582 Weiss Jan. 22, 1935 2,125,042 Bergstein July 26, 1938 2, 72,183 Williamson June 7, 1949 

